1990 Nissan 240SX S13 - Licensed To Ill

Tommy Cho's S13.5 Is Dope And We're Puttin' It On Wax Paper!

Chicago is a very interesting place. It's the home of deep-dish pizza, the beloved Cubs and Sue, the world's most intact Tyrannosaurus Rex. Being the third most populated city in the US helps contribute to many of the feats honed by Chicago. However, if you drive just outside city limits there is a rapidly growing car scene.

Enter Tommy Cho, owner of iLL Garage and the 240SX doing it's best not to pop off the page and destroy you. The car is, among other things, heavily customized, boosted, low-offestized (made up a word there) and rough around the edges - every virtue America has come to love about Nissan's S Chassis.

The item from the aforementioned list that initially caught my eye at HIN Chicago is the massive Work Meisters. It's no secret I love wheels and the Meister is a staple; bolt it to any car and it's guaranteed a 500% increase in the looks department. Not only for the custom spilt purple drank coating, but the sheer size of these babies - 18X10 -0 front and 18X13 -36. The only wilder set I've seen were bolted to a Porsche.

If you own a 240 and are currently running the specs through your mind you know these shits aren't gonna fit under a stock fender. That's precisely why Tommy decided to rivet some Origin 50mm over fenders to the body... then bang them out another 20mm. The final appearance gives the car a resemblance to Kim Kardashian out in the back - plump, round and a little banged up.

This not-so-flawless exterior is easily overlooked, since the car was built to be used and abused. Before all you drift fan boys get any more hyped I'm afraid I'll have to shit in your Cherrios; this isn't a drift car. The meats in the back won't be cambered to high hell, they are there to be used while clocking hot laps. That's right ladies, this is a time attack car.

In order to propel those massive rollers the crew at iLL Garage swapped in a S14 spec SR20. They then furthered the engine's capabilities by swapping the turbo for a pair of G-unit sneakers... err a unit from Bullseye Turbo. Once coupled to a Alchemy manifold and an ill ass iLL Garage intercooler setup, this bitch is ready to scream. To make sure he didn't have to place a "honk if parts fall off" bumper sticker on the car, Tommy got with ARC and GReddy to combat any oiling issues with the use of their oil pan and filter relocation kit respectively.

In final preparation for track use the interior of the car was torn apart. The dash received a faux-suede finish, which is not just for looks. The finish cuts down glare from the dash that could yield the driver incapacitated on track... or maybe it just looks really cool and kinda helps too, you be the judge. The S&W cage underwent a few modifications, most of which will remain undisclosed since I don't want you bootlegging his setup and becoming top dog (or I forgot exactly what was done to it, again you be the judge). What I will tell you is that the whole cage is wrapped in some sort of tape that looks kind of like some girly wrapping paper. For further performance gains Tommy opted to attach the optional disturbing pink stuffed animal with it's supplied zip tie.

With all joking aside, this car has the potential to lay down some good times. Unfortunately most S Chassis owners don't realize this and keep buying them up and wrapping them around poles because some Japanese cartoon told them to. Don't be a dummy and get it straight. Literally. Jock it if you will, hate it if you must, this 240SX is a horse of a different color.